Dhrupad is the oldest form of North-Indian classical music and originated from the recitation of the sacred syllable Om and the Vedic sutras. Throughout centuries Dhrupad has been practised both vocally and instrumentally in temples and later on at the North-Indian courts. After India’s independence, when the many small kingdoms were replaced by the present democracy, much of its performance ceased to exist. Studying Dhrupad is very time consuming and characterized by an oral tradition in which a master teaches his pupil. It is a refined and meditative musical form, which gradually developed into a highly sophisticated and challenging musical discipline. Also today, in the 21st century, Dhrupad’s artistic and spiritual expressiveness is widely appreciated. Though convincingly a powerful musical form, Dhrupad invites both musicians and public into a state of stillness and contemplation.

A Dhrupad performance starts with an improvised part, in which a raga consisting of several meditative syllables, slowly reveals itself, accompanied by the drone of a Tanpura. This part, the alap, consists of three episodes. The first part is without a fixed rhythm, whereas the second has a slow and the last one a fast rhythm. During the alap the musical form evolves note by note. The alap is then followed by a composition with which the singer, accompanied by a pakhawaj (a lying drum) sings about love, nature, philosophy, Hinduism or Sufism. Most of the compositions which are still in use were written from the 16th century onwards. There are many different raga’s, each of them expressing their own identity and sphere.